Implementation of health technology in Asia: A scoping review

Background: Having been integrated into system-wide reforms in many countries, health technology is revolutionizing healthcare worldwide. This scoping review sought to map the implementation landscape of digital health technology across Asia, focusing on real-world deployment in clinical practice rather than on technology development or pilot testing. Methods: We searched three databases—namely, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework and considering the Asian adult population, different digital health technologies ( e.g. , wearables, artificial intelligence [AI]), and their integration into routine clinical practice. This review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Results: Among the 3734 articles initially identified (PubMed n = 1406; Embase n = 1206; Scopus n = 1080; hand search n = 42), 303 duplicates were removed. Subsequently, screening of 3431 titles and abstracts excluded 3271 articles. Following the full-text review of the remaining 160 articles, 60 were included in the full-text analysis. Most implementations of health technology occurred in China ( n = 13) and India ( n = 11), and they primarily focused on teleconsultation, telepharmacy, remote monitoring, and digital diagnostics. Only one study involved a technology that targeted direct treatment, whereas the majority addressed technologies for triaging, screening, or management. Conclusion: Health technologies, particularly telemedicine, are integral to healthcare in Asia, improving both access and efficiency. However, most applications remain limited to the pilot or validation phase. A greater emphasis on implementation research is essential to address the barriers to implementation and enable sustainable integration of health technology into routine care.